Adventure Challenge Program https://grants.dudleytdoughertyfoundation.org/proposals-2011/adventure-challenge-program https://grants.dudleytdoughertyfoundation.org/@@site-logo/sitelogo-75x75.png

Adventure Challenge Program

Additional Information
Used for	Youth Odyssey is seeking $10,000 to support its Adventure Challenge Program. Funding from grants is used to make up the difference between the actual cost of the Adventure Challenge Program and the amount agencies requesting the program contribute. By funding this difference through grants, Youth Odyssey is able to ensure that programs remain free for all participants.
Benefits	At-risk youth face daily challenges avoiding risky behavior, such as drugs, gangs, sexual activity, etc. Youth Odyssey works to empower youth to make positive choices for their lives through adventure challenge programming. When youth have the ability to overcome these daily challenges, they also have the ability to become productive members of society and avoid the negative influences occurring in their communities.
Proposal Description	Youth Odyssey is a non-profit 501 (C) (3) organization formed in 1997 in Corpus Christi, Texas to address the rising tide of juvenile crime and violence. Youth Odyssey's mission is to provide at-risk boys and girls with youth development through adventure challenge programming. Youth Odyssey works towards this goal by teaching life skills to at-risk youth through adventure-based programming. The direct beneficiaries of the adventure challenge program are the youth ages 11-17 who choose to participate in the program. These young men and women make the choice to question their assumptions and challenge the limitations placed on them by the environment they live in. During the program participants learn and use the six core life skills: communication, teamwork, leadership, setting goals, solving problems, and trust. These skills are the tools that participants will use to choose the direction that their life will go. Grant funding compensates for the actual cost of the adventure challenge program compared to the amount requesting agencies are asked to contribute (I.e., $10-$15 per youth for a 9 week program). These costs include, but are not limited to, transportation, equipment, and personnel for ropes courses, wilderness trips, kayaking trips, as well as the on site program. Grant funding allows Youth Odyssey programs to remain free to all participants. To date the success of Youth Odyssey's program can be viewed by the number of organizations and schools requesting new programs as well as those who have supported the program for years. Organizations such as the Corpus Christi Independent School District (CCISD), Community Youth Development, and the Boot Camp program have consistently funded and backed the Youth Odyssey program because they believe the program is positively affecting their youth. By partnering with numerous organizations throughout Nueces County and surrounding areas, we are able to go on site to help young men and women in their neighborhoods and schools. The main part of the Adventure Challenge Program is done on site at the agency that requested the program. These meetings are one to two hours long and take place anywhere from once a week to everyday. During the onsite meetings, youth learn life skills in a fun and challenging way, which focuses on making connections back to the participants own life. Midway through the program, each group has the opportunity to take a trip to our high challenge course. During their time at the challenge course, participants work as a team to overcome facilitated challenges. At the end of the program, youth have an opportunity to attend an adventure wilderness trip. During the wilderness trip, youth spend three days at one of Texas’ State Parks. Every trip includes a challenging activity, such as, kayaking, top rope climbing, bouldering, or hiking. The adventure wilderness trip is the culmination of everything the group has been working on and focuses on the core life skills as well as respect for themselves and others.